Vanguard Magazine

The last day of 2017 marked the completion of Canada's Air Task Force (ATF) four-month mission in Romania in support of Operation REASSUR- ANCE and Block 45 of NATO enhanced Air Policing (eAP). Since September 2017, about 135 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) per- sonnel, mainly from 2 Air Expeditionary Wing, Bagotville, and 4 Wing, Cold Lake, along with four CF-18 Hornet fighter jets, supported the 45th rotation of NATO eAP. Canada's Air Task Force completes four-month mission in Romania Marine Recycling to dispose of HMCS Athabaskan During the mission, members of the ATF-Romania visited Romanian Armed Forces bases, Combat Readiness Centre, the newly renovated 86th Air Base with its F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft, a training academy for new aircrew, and several headquarters, according to the release. In the latter part of September, a few members of the ATF, along with two CF-18 Hornets, visited Slovenia to share best practices. The ATF also conducted other training with its Romanian hosts, in- cluding medical support, flight safety, aircraft maintenance, command and control, and military policing. The ATF-Romania also participated in other activities to support local communities, including delivering donations to an orphanage. The CF-18 Hornet crews participated in many training sessions with the Romanian Air Force MiG-21s, F-16s and Puma helicopters, along with Portuguese F-16s, US Army Blackhawk helicopters and NATO air- borne warning and control systems (AWACs). Their training also in- cluded operating with French and Romanian vessels in the Black Sea. "This mission has been an outstanding opportunity and a point of pride for the entire Air Task Force," said Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Hickey, Commander Air Task Force-Romania. "It has been an honour to contrib- ute to the NATO Alliance in such a meaningful way while working along- side our Romanian counterparts as we build even stronger ties." The ATF-Romania members and CF-18s will return to Canada shortly. 8 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 www.vanguardcanada.com sit rep The Government of Canada recently awarded a contract valued at $5.7m to Marine Recycling Corporation for the disposal of the Royal Canadian Navy's (RCN) former Iroquois-class destroyer, HMCS Athabaskan. As part of the contract, the company is responsible for towing the ves- sel to its facility located in Sydney, Nova Scotia. At this location, Marine Recycling will then demilitarise equipment, remedy hazardous waste and recycling of any remaining materials. The Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada, Carla Qual- trough said, "Our government is ensuring that these historically signifi- cant vessels are disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner, while creating jobs and bringing economic opportunities to communities across Canada." The contract will sustain approximately 30 jobs in the region, accord- ing to Sydney-Victoria (Nova Scotia) MP Mark Eyking. HMCS Athabaskan, the last of the four Iroquois-class destroyers, is currently at the Canadian Forces Base Halifax and is expected to be dis- mantled by July 2019. The retirement of the vessel is part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), which is focused on renewing and upgrad- ing the RCN fleet. The destroyers are slated to be replaced by up to 15 Canadian Sur- face Combatants, with the expected delivery of the first ship by the mid-2020s. In the meantime, the modernized Halifax-class frigates, the Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels and Victoria-class submarines will provide the RCN with the capability to deliver on its core mission. "The former HMCS Athabaskan served Canadians and protected our wa- ters with distinction for more than 44 years," said Harjit S. Sajjan, Minis- ter of National Defence. "I am grateful to all Royal Canadian Navy mem- bers and veterans who have served with honour and dignity aboard this ship throughout its long and storied history."

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